Lotus Is Making A Extra Highly effective Emira. Will It Have A V8?

A brand new V8 supercar headlines Lotus’ “Focus 2030” enterprise technique introduced as we speak, however till the “Kind 135” arrives in 2028, one other sports activities automotive is about to interrupt cowl. The Geely-owned automaker intends to roll out an up to date Emira within the coming weeks. Whereas technical specs stay a thriller, we do comprehend it’ll be essentially the most highly effective and lightest model so far.

Launched in 2022, the Emira is at the moment supplied with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder of AMG origin and a bigger supercharged 3.5-liter V6 from Toyota. With Lotus refraining from speaking concerning the powertrain, one might speculate that the engineers in Norfolk have massaged one of many two present engines. However what in the event that they didn’t and as an alternative used a wholly totally different engine?

Talking throughout an earnings name a 12 months in the past, Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng mentioned the corporate was “at the moment investigating the feasibility of the V8.” We’ll have to attend and see whether or not it has since been given the inexperienced gentle. If it has, it could make sense for the Emira to make use of a variation of the identical eight-cylinder engine destined for the corporate’s first supercar. Paradoxically, the swap to a bigger V8 could also be pushed by necessity, because the V6 apparently can’t be tailored to adjust to Euro 7 laws.

Picture by: Lotus

An AMG V8-Powered Emira?

Lotus is unlikely to develop a bigger engine from scratch and would as an alternative borrow one from a 3rd occasion. If that’s the case, Mercedes-AMG has been engaged on a new V8, and it could make sense to shoehorn it into the Emira. The truth that the corporate’s boss went on document saying it’s a risk suggests there’s a very good probability a V8 suits within the engine bay, regardless that it was initially designed just for four- and six-cylinder models.

Whatever the engine it makes use of, the beefier Emira is extremely unlikely to obtain a plug-in hybrid setup. With Lotus promising it’ll shed weight, including an electrical motor and battery pack would do the precise reverse. For reference, the present V6-powered mannequin weighs 1,458 kilograms (3,214 kilos) in European specification, with the turbo four-cylinder model weighing barely much less.

The Lotus Emira’s Future Is Protected

A V8 would inevitably add mass in comparison with the present fashions, however the firm’s engineers actually have the know-how to offset the additional weight. Technical specs apart, the way forward for the British-built sports activities automotive seems safe, with Lotus saying “Emira continuity is confirmed.” This was purported to be the ultimate ICE mannequin forward of 2028, when the whole lineup had been deliberate to go absolutely electrical.

Nonetheless, that EV aim has since been deserted, and it seems the Emira will proceed for a few years to come back. Lotus is already putting in a combustion engine in a mannequin that was initially supposed to be purely electrical: the Eletre. The model’s first SUV has been given a plug-in-hybrid setup with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for a Chinese language-market model carrying the questionable identify “Lotus For Me.” The 939-horsepower PHEV is coming to Europe in This autumn 2026, hopefully with a greater identify.

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Motor1’s Take: With solely a handful of devoted sports activities vehicles left, it’s reassuring to know Lotus has safeguarded the Emira’s future. The truth that it’s getting extra energy whereas shedding weight makes the mid-engine efficiency coupe much more fascinating. A pure V8 model would place it as a extra inexpensive different to unique heavyweights from McLaren and Ferrari.

Even when it sticks with one of many present engines, we’re nonetheless desirous to see how Lotus plans to take the Emira to the following degree after 4 years available on the market.